Parents Charged in US After Children's E-Moto Crashes

Multiple California parents are facing child endangerment charges in connection with letting their children 'illegally ride E-Motos,' the Orange County District Attorney announced Wednesday. District Attorney Todd Spitzer made the announcement.

According to the district attorney's office, the charges follow multiple accidents — including one that left an 11-year-old with a broken collarbone and an arterial bleed, and another in which a 13-year-old died after crashing into a light pole.

E-motos, or electric motorcycles, are two-wheeled, off-highway motorcycles powered by an electric motor with no pedals. Electric bicycles, in contrast, come with pedals and an electric motor that does not exceed 750 watts, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The office says the new charges are among at least 12 parents it has charged since January in an effort to regulate young people on e-bikes and e-motos.

Among those recently charged was Alex Li, who faces a misdemeanor count of child endangerment. The district attorney's office alleges Li's 11-year-old son collided 'with a pickup truck while riding his E-Moto capable of going more than 33 miles per hour in the city of Yorba Linda.' The boy suffered broken bones and an arterial bleed.

Another parent, Maria Roehling, was charged with a felony count of child endangerment and an infraction for allowing a child under 18 to drive a motor vehicle without a license. Her 9-year-old son was allegedly 'speeding on his E-Moto capable of going speeds more than 47 miles per hour when he was hit by a pickup truck in Yorba Linda.'

Dan Rezmives, a father of a 12-year-old, was charged with one misdemeanor count of child endangerment, one misdemeanor count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and an infraction for allowing a child under 18 to drive without a license, after a police officer allegedly saw his son riding an e-moto on a city street. Rezmives was allegedly on a bicycle at the time. The father and son had previously been warned that riding on city streets was illegal.

Two other parents, Hulin Guo and Xiaomin Wang, were each charged with a misdemeanor count of child endangerment, one misdemeanor count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and an infraction for allowing a child under 18 to drive without a license, after their 17-year-old son allegedly 'led Newport Beach police on a pursuit while driving more than 40 miles an hour' on an e-moto earlier this year. The office cited two prior instances in which the son had run-ins with police on e-motos, and said the parents had been reminded of the bikes' dangers.

The sixth parent, Tuan Nguyen, was charged with one misdemeanor count of child endangerment after his 13-year-old son allegedly led police on a pursuit at up to 40 miles an hour. 'The pursuit ended when the 13-year-old crashed his Surron, capable of going up to 49 miles per hour, into the police vehicle while trying to get away,' the D.A.'s office said.

Another man, Jose De Jesus Ramirezbarragan, was charged with one misdemeanor count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor after allegedly 'allowing his 15-year-old brother to ride his E-Motorcycle.' His brother allegedly 'began a police pursuit while driving 40 miles per hour, running red lights, and nearly crashing into several cars before losing control and crashing into several bushes.'

'We don't want to have to prosecute parents — we want to save kids' lives,' Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in a statement. 'When parents refuse to parent and tell their kids 'no' when it comes to riding something that is dangerous and illegal, then I have no choice but to hold parents accountable and file criminal charges.'

In April, the office announced a mother had been arrested and charged with child endangerment and accessory after the fact after her 14-year-old allegedly hit an 81-year-old veteran while riding an e-motorcycle.

According to the D.A.'s office, the California Statewide Integrated Traffic Record System shows children aged 11 to 14 make up 61.7% of e-moto crashes, despite children under 16 being prohibited from riding e-motos.

ABC News has not yet identified attorneys for any of those charged. Analysts say the cases will intensify the debate over children's safety amid the surging popularity of e-bikes and e-motos across the United States.